In a surprising turn of events, a former Manchester City youth prospect has walked away from professional football to pursue an academic career at Oxford University.
From Premier League Dreams to University Life
Han Willhoft-King, who represented England at Under-16 level, has traded the training pitches of the Etihad Campus for the historic halls of Brasenose College, Oxford. The 19-year-old made his Premier League 2 debut for City's Under-21 side last season, but that single appearance would prove to be his last in professional football.
The talented midfielder had been involved in elite academy football for most of his life, joining Tottenham as a six-year-old before moving to Manchester City in 2024. During his time with City, he experienced first-team training sessions under Pep Guardiola, working alongside global superstars like Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland.
The Reality of Elite Football Training
In an interview with The Guardian, Willhoft-King described the eye-opening experience of training with City's first team. "Tottenham is a good team but Man City is another level," he explained. "De Bruyne, Haaland… these are the best players in the world. But you also realise they are normal people."
However, the young midfielder revealed that the glamour of working with world-class players was tempered by the demanding reality of Guardiola's methods. "Training with the first team became a thing that no one was really looking forward to, strangely enough," he confessed.
"We would be running after the ball like dogs for half an hour, 60 minutes," Willhoft-King revealed. "It's not a very pleasant experience, especially when you are trying to press De Bruyne or Gundogan or Foden. You can't get near them, so the feeling of not wanting to do this overcomes being star-struck."
Academic Excellence Over Athletic Career
While some of his England Under-16 contemporaries are making their mark in professional football, Willhoft-King is embarking on a different path. He secured his place at Oxford after achieving two A* grades and one A at A-Level, excelling in the national law aptitude test to earn his spot at the prestigious institution.
The decision to leave football wasn't made impulsively. Willhoft-King had been considering his future even before City came calling, initially planning to study at UCLA in Los Angeles. Injuries during his time at Tottenham had prompted him to question his football career, and the one-year deal with City represented a final opportunity to test himself at the highest level.
"At that point, the plan was still to go pro and I felt like I'd always regret it if I didn't join Man City," he stated. "Now I've had that and I can step away from football knowing I've given it my best shot. That's a lot more comforting for me."
His former England youth teammates, including Myles Lewis-Skelly, Tyrique George and Tyler Dibling, have since progressed to professional careers, but Willhoft-King appears content with his decision to pursue law instead of football.
